The American long rifle -- The Spencer repeater -- The Colt single-action army revolver -- The Winchester 1873 rifle -- The M1903 Springfield -- The M1911 pistol -- The Thompson submachine gun -- The M1 Garand -- The .38 special police revolver -- The M16 rifle -- The ten guns, by the numbers. In this book, the author, deadliest sniper in U.S. history tracks down and shoots the ten most important American firearms, from a flintlock rifle to a Colt revolver to the latest high-tech weapon he used as a Navy SEAL. He uses these guns as a window on United States history, making the sweeping argument that the American story has been tied to and shaped by the gun. He revisits turning points in American history, including the single sniper shot that turned the tide of the Revolutionary War, the firearms that proved decisive in the Civil War's Batlte of Gettysburg, the "gun that won the West," and the weapon that gave U.S. soldiers an edge in World War I and World War II, and beyond. This is also the story of how firearms innovation, creativity, and industrial genius has constantly pushed American history, and power forward.

Reviews and Notes

Chris Kyle--fallen hero and #1 bestselling author of American Sniper--reveals how ten legendary guns forever changed U.S. history.

At the time of his tragic death in February 2013, former Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, the top sniper in U.S. military history, was finishing one of the most exciting missions of his life: a remarkable book that retold American history through the lens of a hand-selected list of firearms. Kyle masterfully shows how guns have played a fascinating, indispensable, and often underappreciated role in our national story.

"Perhaps more than any other nation in the world," Kyle writes, "the history of the United States has been shaped by the gun. Firearms secured the first Europeans' hold on the continent, opened the frontier, helped win our independence, settled the West, kept law and order, and defeated tyranny across the world."

Drawing on his unmatched firearms knowledge and combat experience, Kyle carefully chose ten guns to help tell his story: the American long rifle, Spencer repeater, Colt .45 revolver, Winchester rifle, Springfield 1903 rifle, Thompson sub-machine gun, 1911 pistol, M1 Garand, .38 Special police revolver, and the M-16 rifle platform Kyle himself used as a SEAL. Through them, he revisits thrilling turning points in American history, including the single sniper shot that turned the tide of the Revolutionary War, the firearms designs that proved decisive at Gettysburg, the "gun that won the West," and the weapons that gave U.S. soldiers an edge in the world wars and beyond. This is also the story of how firearms innovation, creativity, and industrial genius has constantly pushed American history--and power--forward.

Filled with an unforgettable cast of characters, Chris Kyle's American Gun is a sweeping epic of bravery, adventure, invention, and sacrifice.

$a American gun : $b a history of the U.S. in ten firearms / $c Chris Kyle with William Doyle ; and editorial contributions by Jim Defelice ; foreword and afterword by Taya Kyle.

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$a 1st edition.

264

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$a New York : $b William Morrow, $c [2013]

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$c c2013

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$a xv, 302 pages : $b illustrations ; $c 24 cm

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$a text $2 rdacontent

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$a unmediated $2 rdamedia

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$a volume $2 rdacarrier

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$a Includes bibliographical references (p. 281-288) and index.

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$a The American long rifle -- The Spencer repeater -- The Colt single-action army revolver -- The Winchester 1873 rifle -- The M1903 Springfield -- The M1911 pistol -- The Thompson submachine gun -- The M1 Garand -- The .38 special police revolver -- The M16 rifle -- The ten guns, by the numbers.

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$a In this book, the author, deadliest sniper in U.S. history tracks down and shoots the ten most important American firearms, from a flintlock rifle to a Colt revolver to the latest high-tech weapon he used as a Navy SEAL. He uses these guns as a window on United States history, making the sweeping argument that the American story has been tied to and shaped by the gun. He revisits turning points in American history, including the single sniper shot that turned the tide of the Revolutionary War, the firearms that proved decisive in the Civil War's Batlte of Gettysburg, the "gun that won the West," and the weapon that gave U.S. soldiers an edge in World War I and World War II, and beyond. This is also the story of how firearms innovation, creativity, and industrial genius has constantly pushed American history, and power forward.